Jesus Christ is the source of our hope. Even though most Jews, during the days He was and dwelt among people, did not believe He was the Messiah (the Christ). 

In spite of their unbelief, they all still knew that the Messiah had to come someday, and resolve every human problem.

Once in the world, Christ would rule over Israel one more time over every nation, and eventually set the Jews free from Roman oppression. 

However, the coming of the Messiah, who happened to be Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary, took place in very unusual and unexpected ways.

As you read all the four Gospels, the unbelief of the Jewish leaders ended up crucifying Jesus. They were in denial of the fact that He was and is the Messiah, and had come to give us hope again!

Take a look at the story based on Mark 13, which can help us understand two things about the birth of the Messiah: 

• The state of the world and humankind makes us hopeless. 
• Jesus Christ is the only source of true and lasting hope. 

 

 

The state of the world and humankind makes us hopeless

 

 

Start with verses 1 and 2, 

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.”

In Jesus’ days, the temple in Jerusalem represented a strong sense of pride and hope for the Jews. 

Every year tens of thousands of people would visit Jerusalem to attend the Jewish festivals. You couldn’t visit Jerusalem without worshipping at the temple. 

Most people, if not all, who were so close to Jesus were Galileans. Being in Jerusalem was probably a once in a lifetime experience for them. And, again that was because of what the temple meant for the Israelites. 

In the verses above (Mark 13:1-2), the disciples expressed awe and amazement about the temple to Jesus saying: “what magnificent buildings!” 

Jesus’ response, however, which wasn’t what they expected to hear from Him was that “not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.” 

[bctt tweet=”To Jesus (and God), what we, humans, build doesn’t always last. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

As stated above, for the Jews, including the disciples of Jesus based on our text, the temple was the source of their hope and pride.

But, it’s a building humans had built, and, therefore, it also had an end just as it had a beginning!

What gives you a sense of pride or hope? Is it your work, career, investment, legacies, possessions, family, relationships, connections, fame, etc?

All the above, because they’re human-made, only give us a false sense of pride and hope. They give us hope, which doesn’t last. It’s just for a season or two in life. 

The reason why it is all temporary, just like the temple, is because all these things we build have a beginning and an end, just as there was a day to be born and would be a day we’ll die. 

[bctt tweet=”Jesus Christ, on the other hand, gives us hope that has no end. It’s eternal just as He and the Father are. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

Of course, as you keep reading the rest of the chapter (Mark 13), you’d think that Jesus is talking about the end times. I would say He was helping the disciples, just as He’s doing the same with us today, to shift their eyes from the temple to the Christ. 

Advent is not just about waiting for the Messiah, but, more importantly, about the transformation we experience as we wait for the birth of the Christ. 

Advent is about “becoming.” 

Our transformation while shifting our eyes from our own sense of pride and hope to Christ, the source of the true and lasting hope, isn’t just about what is to come. It’s about God’s Kingdom now. 

How then do we prepare for Christ’s coming, the source of true and lasting hope? 

There are two things you and I have to do, which also come out of Mark 13. 

 

 

Watch out that no one deceives you

 

 

Read verses 5 and 6, 

Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 

Of course, a lot of people, when reading the above texts, may refer to the end times. Even though to some extent, the text does apply to the end times, but Jesus’ emphasis is on the disciples that you and I are. 

He wanted them to watch out that no one (or nothing) may deceive them. 

Deception will not only have to do with people claiming to be Christ. Not at all. It has to deal with what you hear and the claims people make that they can give you lasting hope. 

[bctt tweet=”Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ coming to the world, should remind us that Jesus Christ is the only source of true and lasting hope. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]

I’m not saying that you don’t have to listen to or watch the news. You need to be informed about what’s happening in our community and around the world. 

What I want to say though is that you should use the news to know what kind of help people need. Doing so also gives you a way to best pray for people, our country, and the world. 

 

 

Be on your guard

 

 

Choosing to make Christ the only source of our true and lasting hope can be counter-cultural. 

Jesus said it in verses 9 through 19. Believing in Christ will make us face resistance from those who don’t believe the good news of Jesus Christ. 

Read verse 14, 

When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

The coming of Christ into the world gives us hope. But, this hope comes with opposition from those who do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. 

Christ is the Elect to come, and because of Him, God has cut short the days of trial or temptations (see verses 20-23). 

What that means is God protects us through Christ, no matter what we face in life. That’s the source of our hope resulting from our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 

 

 

Bringing it together

God, the Father, gave His only Son for you and I. Jesus eventually died for us on the cross. He took our pain and sin on Himself so that you and I can now have access to God’s grace. Christmas reminds us of God’s sacrificial love He has shown to us through Jesus. So, what are you willing to sacrificially give as a response to God’s love this Christmas? Who do you choose to love and what are you willing to give showing you love them?